What Does a Garage Door Opener Actually Do – And Does It Really Lift the Door on Its Own?
A garage door opener lets you open and close your garage door remotely and automatically. But in reality, the opener itself is a relatively small and low-power motor. That’s intentional – it’s designed to be safe. In case something goes wrong and the door closes on a child, pet, or object, the motor isn’t strong enough to cause serious harm.
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So How Does a Small Motor Lift Such a Heavy Garage Door?
While the motor helps operate and lift the garage door, most of the heavy lifting is actually done by the springs. These springs are connected to the door through two cables and are carefully tensioned to counterbalance the door’s weight.
That’s why simply fixing or replacing the garage door opener without checking the root cause of the failure, (often misaligned or broken springs) usually won’t last. If the underlying issue isn’t addressed, the opener is likely to fail again.
What Should You Do If Your Garage Door Opener Stops Working?
If your garage door is fully closed and you’re familiar with how to operate it manually, you can try disconnecting the opener and using the door manually until a technician arrives.
However, if the door is partially open or fully open, it’s best not to try fixing the problem yourself. In many cases, what seems like an issue with the motor might actually be a broken cable, a snapped spring, or a spring that came loose, all of which can be dangerous.
Do not go near the door, and make sure children and pets stay away from the garage area until a professional garage door technician has inspected and repaired the problem.
A Common Issue: Broken Plastic Gear Inside the Garage Door Opener
One of the most common problems with garage door openers is a broken internal plastic gear.
In that case you don’t need to replace the entire opener. A garage door repairman can usually replace just the gear and get it working again, but it’s important to understand why the gear broke in the first place.
This often happens because the door is too heavy due to improperly tensioned or broken springs, or because of poor operation that causes excessive resistance when opening or closing. If the root cause isn’t addressed, the new gear may break again soon.
24 Hour Garage Door Opener Repair Services in Chicago Area
- Garage door opener repair
- Opener / motor replacement
- Broken gear replacement
- New garage door opener installation
- Remote and keypad programming
- Safety sensor alignment and replacement
- Chain or belt tension adjustment
Signs the opener needs service
- Door doesn’t open/close fully
- Motor runs but nothing moves
- Intermittent response
- Manual release not working
Opener Maintenance Tips
To keep your garage door opener running smoothly, test the safety sensors regularly, listen for unusual noises, tighten any loose parts, and lubricate moving components as needed. Don’t forget to replace remote batteries and keep the area around the opener clean.
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We service, repair, and install all major garage door opener brands, including Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Craftsman, Genie, and Linear. Whether you’re dealing with a broken gear, sensor issues, or need a new opener installed, our expert technicians are ready to help 24/7.
We proudly serve Chicago metropolitan including Chicago’s South Side, North Side, and West Side, working with trusted brands to ensure safe, reliable, and long-lasting performance for your garage door.